Work-order tracking is the process of monitoring a production, repair, or maintenance work order as it moves from release through completion. It records the current status of the work, where it is in the workflow, what operations have been completed, and what remains open.
In manufacturing systems, work-order tracking is commonly handled in an MES, ERP, CMMS, EAM, or related execution system. Typical tracking data includes order number, routing step, quantity started and completed, labor or machine activity, material consumption, timestamps, holds, nonconformances, and completion status. This information supports production control, traceability, schedule visibility, and coordination between operations, quality, planning, and maintenance.
Work-order tracking should not be confused with a work order itself. The work order is the authorization or record of work to be performed; tracking is the ongoing capture and review of its progress. It is also different from a schedule, which plans when work should occur, although tracking data is often used to compare actual progress against the schedule.